Longtime police officer eyes district judge post in Butler County

Butler County native and longtime Penn Township police Officer Jack D. Ripper announced his candidacy Wednesday for district judge in Southeastern Magisterial District 50-3-03.

The position is being vacated by District Judge Sue Haggarty, who recently announced her retirement.

Ripper, 48, of Jefferson Township will seek both the Democratic and Republican nominations. Ripper has 27 years of service in law enforcement and has been a member of the Penn Township Police Department since 2001. He also is as an officer with Knoch School District Police.

“The position of district judge is all about people,” Ripper said. “The office is the entry point to the greater court system, so it is imperative that people have a magistrate who is fair, objective and willing to listen to all sides of an argument before reaching a conclusion. I’m confident that my experience in investigating and handling disputes and disagreements among people, along with my courtroom experience and observations, would serve our community well in this role.”

The magisterial district covers Saxonburg and Buffalo, Clinton, Jefferson, Middlesex, Penn and Winfield townships in Butler County.